V/Line in Victoria, Australia still uses 4x Clyde/EMD G6B's known as the Y class as carriage shunters with 3 being at the main Melbourne terminal (Spencer Street station/Southern Cross station) and 1 in Geelong (about 70km's South West of Melbourne) and there's a few preserved and operating around the state
My favorite class of engines is definitely the switcher types. They always have cool looks, great models and so many cool paint schemes. Often underrated to.
Same, I've talked with dozens of SP ATSF crews that worked with these back in the 1970s and 1980s. NEVER heard them called this way. They had other names... but I wonder if this is more a post-2000 thing where MTV/Nic cartoon influenced the kids and then they worked for the RR... or maybe this is just a foamer-name which has NO basis on the railroads at all.
Well done! I do have one issue, I cannot stand that term “Butthead”. But then I never liked the term “Snoot” either. My friends and I always referred to the long nosed 40’s as Crocodiles.
I was an engineer at CSX in Buffalo NY and had the pleasure to operate an MP 1500T which had a 8 cylinder turbocharged prime mover up until the early 2010s. It was a good unit.
NASA's former #3 is actually still in service. It serves the City of Madison Port Authority (CMPA) in Madison, Indiana. That entire railroad (Minus a GP10 painted to look like a PRR engine) are end cab switchers
2 end cabs are still in use by V/Line at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne Victoria Australia to move passenger carriages in and out of the platforms, their days are numbers as most of the fleet is now DMU. They are Y class and there used to be 75 of them in use across the system, there are a few in use by preservation groups.
I do remember seeing such B&M "butthead" switcher serving the City of Keene, NH, until 1980. Commonly used was #1231. It would come up from Brattleboro, VT, in the last days of rail service to Keene, traveling through the towns of Hinsdale, Winchester, West Swanzey, typically following the Ashuelot River.
Here's another idea for a video (hopefully with working examples): show us the differences between yard slugs, road slugs, and cow/calf sets and why and where railroads would use each.
They used to have a pair stationed at Harold Tower to act as rescue engines, at least during rush hour. I don’t know what the current procedure is. I moved out of New York 21 years ago.
@@jonathanng2390 you’re right. They even had them painted in the gray with orange ends livery. I guess they are razor blades or automobile fenders by now.
Super. 💙 T.E.N. Edit: I still have five Athearn Bluebox SW-7 (SW-1500 on the box originally.) locomotives in operation after almost fifty years. I bought two cows and a calf brand new, and was impressed with how they ran, and was quite satisfied and happy with the purchase, as they all ran great. About six months later, there was a SW-7 cow and calf combo (Beavis & Butthead?🙂) in my paint scheme on consignment at the hobby shop. I was interested, but the dealer wanted $35.00 for the set, when the Athearn SW-7s were only $12.99 each, brand new, and he had my roadname in stock. I checked and these were modified with RADIAL X2-f couplers. At the time, I knew about a manufacturer that made radial X2-f couplers, but had only seen the Kadee radial knuckle coupler in use. Well, I bought those two right then and there, as my railroad was about 50/50 between hornhook and knuckle couplers back then. That much money would have almost paid for an Athearn F-7A Superpowered locomotive, matching F-7B dummy, and five matching Athearn streamlined passenger cars. Little did I know that those two locomotives would be the start of a trolley line with a paved right of way that is the railroads connection to a large sugar beet mill. The trolley line has 4 3/4 inch radius curves, and the two SW-7s will walk around those corners with 27 thirtyfour foot beet hopper cars in tow. Nowadays, the sugar beet mill has an 0-4-0 steam locomotive and a Plymouth MDT four wheel switcher, the trolley line has four trolley cars, one with radial Kadee knuckle couplers, two Plymouth CR-4 center cab switching locomotives, one Plymouth WDT six wheel switcher, two each box car, tank car, gondola, and one flatcar, one coach, one combine, and one observation passenger cars, and two cabooses, all equipped with radial couplers, not to mention the two SW-7s. Amazing what came from finding two modified locomotives on a dealers consignment shelf. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.
My railroad has been around since 1965, but in different locations. I still have and operate the original Lionel HO "Pacific" train set that my mom and dad gave me, and many of the items that I bought when I was young still operate on my layout. 💙 T.E.N.
My Uncle works for Norfolk Southern. He always told me these engines were called Butt Trains. 🤣 Another Great Video Man! These Videos Always help me understand the RR a lot more!👍
Might be a southern thing ....my dad's friend worked at RF&P, my uncle was at FEC....they called them buttheads....my dad was at BN out of Cicero, he called them buttheads but everyone thought he was nuts....
I kinda think we need to see a resurgence of electric locomotives, or even hybrids, though i suppose that presents new safety and logostic problems. It just seems like having a catenary or third rail in yards for its switchers would be a good solution
And I have been wondering about that; conventional overhead and 3rd rail technologies are still practical and effective today. India is going to have electrified it's entire railway system; because they worked towards it early on. Yet many companies are spending millions to develop battery locomotives for mainline use. I guess they will do anything but install overhead lines.
As far as I know, the Union Pacific in Janesville, WI has two MP15s that are used in the yard. Not sure what happened to the MP15ACs that the CMSTP&P used after they went defunct.
That type of locomotive was the very first experience I had, up close and personal, when my Dad was an Engineer. Many fond memories. There is one sitting in the local (3rd level) yard - but I haven't seen it in use over several years now. The local run is handled by a pair of GP35s(?). Thanks for the informative post.
I know that Metra had an SW1 working well into the 21st century, but I don't know if that locomotive is still in service. In any case, I happen to own an HO-scale SW1 model in PRR brunswick green.
Amtrak used to have a switcher in atlanta like these in mid 90s when they were hauling extra sleepers and mail on the crescent. They would use to cut cars out on 19 and make up additional consist on 20.
Heart of Dixie R.R. Museum in Calera AL still uses a SW7 switcher (I think) and can do cab rides in it. If memory serves me correctly it was a former US Army switcher
I see them ( MP15's and even a SW something ) frequently on the CSX main in Central New York being towed from Buffalo to Selkirk, sometimes even under power. Have a pile of pics and video of them this past year 2023 and early 2024. So I guess that means they have a place somewhere. Or maybe being prepped for sale? At the DeWitt yards, they have sd40-3's with remotes. My last video shows a typical use of them with a remote. Love this video BTW, really well done.
All of the URR Trains in Pittsburgh as I remember them would always run butt foward gave them much better visibility running those fast hot metal trains. Was always fun as a kid because the crew would almost always be able to see you wave
There's quite a few industries out here in the El Paso, TX area that still use end-cab switchers and trackmobiles: Vinton Steel in Vinton, TX, the Freeport Mcmoran plant in El Paso, and Jobe cement off Paisano Dr. still has an old GE 44-Tonner tucked away, but most likely got replaced judging by the presence of the trackmobile.
The South Carolina Railroad Museum runs their museum excursion trains with several former military switchers. You can occasionally get a ticket to ride in the cab too! Great video, learned a lot and enjoyed it.
That loco you thought to be of French origin also looks like one they use in Germany which is much more modern looking. The unobstructed sight lines from a center mounted cab give the operator lots of help when in operation. It looks like a typical yard switcher though this one has that German industrial look though it's an attractive looking locomotive nonetheless. Do a search for "German Diesel Locomotive DB Class 294 834-7" or check out a DB Class 212 for another example of one...
Theres a couple of SW1200s around my neck of the woods in Charleston County, Palmetto Railways operates a good number of them which have roots to South Carolina Public Railways, these days they wear a brilliant blue in immaculate condition. PR cares a lot about the condition of their fleet, its hard to see rust or weathering.
By the time I had retired from the steel mill where I worked, I had run switchers for almost 20 years. We ran only EMD SW1200's, and we all loved them and worked them hard. I left in 2009, but the mills still run these engines. The one I generally ran was a 1957 model, an ex BN engine, numbered 170. I have many pictures and many fond memories of running on the railroad with these old locomotives.
Check with Tacoma Rail in Tacoma Washington. They have bright red and white liverys. I know as I was a crew hauler for the BNSF and UP that delivered and pulled consists from the Port of Tacoma.
my childhood tourist railroad ''The Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad'' had a EX CNW SW1200 #1219 that eventually was the primary locomotive for the dinner and tourist trains after the railroad sold their EX US-Army 2-8-0 #1702. Unfortunately, the railroad was abandoned in 2011 and the rail equipment was sold except 1219 which was left on some of the right of way until being sold to a scrapper that scrapped it in late 2023. Very Sad
I prefered the Yard Engine (End Cab Switcher) to a GP7 or 9, or even the GP38s for yard work. That's what they were built for. Great visibility, and would pull just about anything you could couple it to. I miss these old workhorses!!!! Nice video!!!!
The Long Island Rail Road operates the EMD SW1001 and EMD MP15AC. The New York & Atlantic Railway, which is a shortline serving Queens, Brooklyn also operates the EMD SW1001 and EMD MP15AC.
GP15D/GP20D which were built until 2004 would really be the last end cab switchers we see being built new but companies like Knoxville locomotive works will take an old frame and build a new end cab unit which looks a lot like a SW/MP unit but with a QST-30
Gold Coast RR Museum actually has two former NASA locos. ALCo S-2 #1 and NASA's later SW1500 #2. A preserved USAF SW8M is also on display at the Air Force side of Canaveral Air Force Station. Of the three, I have ridden in all of them, but prefer the controls of the ALCo. Why? Because it is strictly mechanical from the control stand to the engine. You can move the throttle just a hair if you need just a few more HP. The other two are set at what the electricals space the engine speed at.
There's a yard in duryea pa that still uses these but there's like a couple there and there's also a gp30 there as well I even saw a rj corman one somewhere further around there
There is a refinery in Northeast Philadelphia, PA that has 2 end cab switchers. You can see them from I 95 North just past the spot where the on ramp from the westbound side of the Betsy Ross Bridge is
The Union Railroad that you touched on here in Pittsburgh runs them in 4 unit formations, and because of logistics of the yard setups.... still uses cabooses on some trains!
OMLX 2008 is an SW9 on the Fulton County RR. Powered by an 8-cylinder 567-C engine and has to be blown out each time before starting! But there's something terribly wrong with the engine as it overloads and shuts down if MU'd. So they were storing it at the end of the Intonu Lead. 33.74963402830621, -84.55290669482991 when there's no room in the Yard near Cascade Rd on Wilson Mill. But its been years since I laid eyes on it and that was also when I ran it. I could switch the yard with it just fine. It would pull 40-50 cars out of the yard and up the hill towards the crossing. But it would not handle a run to the south end by itself and you couldn't MU another engine to it. Poor little switcher! No near as fun as running an ALCO S1 but it got the job done, sometimes.
There are few different shunter types in Europe: Center cab - the most common type, with cab in between hoods. Example: Br363 from DB, locomotive type 736 of ZSSK. End cab/“Butt head” - uncommon, I only know 1 type: type 721 from ZSSK or ZSSK Cargo Center cab w. high hoods - relatively uncommon, they have relatively poor visibility. Example: locomotive type 742 of ČD Cargo,…; or type 770 from ZSSK Cargo,…
We have two in service at TVRM. One is ex. Milwaukee Road SW1200 No. 606. It lives at the museum and can be seen fairly frequently pulling passenger trains or freight. The other one we have that runs is ex. US Army SW8 No. 2000, though it is currently numbered as TVRM 1898. It lives at the Nokian Tire Plant in Dayton, Tennessee as their in plant switcher. TVRM supplies the staff to operate it whenever they need a move, usually about once or twice a week.
The United States Army added a sw8 to their roster, it was originally built for B&O but it now serves its part for switching duties in the Fort eustis army base.
4:10 The Whitcomb was actually used internationally, some operated for quite a long time in the Netherlands and Italy. Nederlandse Spoorwegen acquired units No. 601 to 619 in 1946, using them until 1960. Ferrovie dello Stato took over 49 units type Ne 120 built 1941 to 1944 and rebuilt them to D 143 in the years 1966 to 1974, the last operated until 2014! From 1952 to 2055 SGP built 20 units class 2045 for ÖBB (Austria) that had some similarities in the general layout with the Whitcomb. Due to limited visibility that remained the only center cab locomotive with high hoods, later shunters were built with low hoods and raised cabs.
While stationed at George AFB in Victorville, CA in 1973, I remember we had a GE, either 40 or 50 something tonner that would periodically bring box and tanker (jet fuel) cars from the UP lines at Victorville out to the base. I'm sure that was gone a couple of years later as most USAF base locomotives (and rail supply) was quickly deactivated in lieu of 'more efficient' truck transport. And then the Gulf oil 'crisis' hit...
in BNSF's Northtown Yard they have 2 switchers, one is even still in BN paint, while they don't switch the yard they have been assigned as shop switchers
The Long Island Railroad and New York and Atlantic Railway still have a handful of MP15ACs and SW1001s. LIRR's fleet of them are primarily used for work trains, rescue moves, and other jobs, although some MP15s were used for passenger service from being built until 1999. NY&AR's fleet of them are primarily used for switching and freight service on Long Island.
There's a small industrial railroad here in valleypark Missouri called the Burlington Junction railway and they use end cab switchers but idk how many locomotives they have
There is a small rail line in north Canaan, CT that uses one or two to pick up freight around town. I have even seen it lashed up to a gp38-2 once they get enough train put together. I believe it is a CITX leased unit it was very new looking. Anyway if you are serious and want to locate said railroad go to google earth or whatever and look up the north Canaan golf course and you will see the small Matinence yard where they keep the switchers it’s at the entrance to the golf course. 👍
The Union railroad out of Pittsburgh Pa still uses the buttheads, they always had them mainly for switching for US steel, LTV formerly J&L steel used them in the coke ovens along side the P&LE railroad now CSX
Caltrain in San Jose, CA has two switchers. JPBX 504 and 503. One of them is being rebuilt. Caltrain mainly uses them to cut cars off of passenger trains and to make new consists. They sometimes go out on the mainline to rescue trains or to help with something in San Francisco. Also great video💪
If a diesel switcher is a "Butt-head," would that make a road locomotive a "Beavis?"
lol Guess so.
Uhh, huhuhuhuh, no.
Lol
It seems to me that would be the slug unit.
Nah, a slug is Beavis.
I’m 57 years old, I’ve never heard end cab switchers called butt heads 🤷🏻♂️ Great video thought as switchers are dear to me. 🚂🚞🚞🚞🚞🌴
Thanks!
ok boomer
@@Shinypancake0 bro
@@Shinypancake0 is that an insult?
@@rickdee67 not really.
Where’s Beavis?
😂😅
That Would be Kennecott’s Original GP39-2
😂
Looking for Waldo
Nice 😂
V/Line in Victoria, Australia still uses 4x Clyde/EMD G6B's known as the Y class as carriage shunters with 3 being at the main Melbourne terminal (Spencer Street station/Southern Cross station) and 1 in Geelong (about 70km's South West of Melbourne) and there's a few preserved and operating around the state
Nice video on switch engines especially end cab switchers. The term Butthead switcher is new to me.
My favorite class of engines is definitely the switcher types. They always have cool looks, great models and so many cool paint schemes. Often underrated to.
Never in my 21 years as a conductor have I heard anyone refer to them as buttheads. No csx, ns, up, kcs or bn guys. Maybe it's a regional thing?
Same, I've talked with dozens of SP ATSF crews that worked with these back in the 1970s and 1980s. NEVER heard them called this way. They had other names... but I wonder if this is more a post-2000 thing where MTV/Nic cartoon influenced the kids and then they worked for the RR... or maybe this is just a foamer-name which has NO basis on the railroads at all.
@@NightOwlModeler come to think of it, it does smell like foamer.
Well done! I do have one issue, I cannot stand that term “Butthead”. But then I never liked the term “Snoot” either. My friends and I always referred to the long nosed 40’s as Crocodiles.
I was an engineer at CSX in Buffalo NY and had the pleasure to operate an MP 1500T which had a 8 cylinder turbocharged prime mover up until the early 2010s. It was a good unit.
NASA's former #3 is actually still in service. It serves the City of Madison Port Authority (CMPA) in Madison, Indiana. That entire railroad (Minus a GP10 painted to look like a PRR engine) are end cab switchers
The Grafton & Upton RR in Massachusetts owns 3 (exCSX) and 1 leased(GATX) MP15AC's.
Yes! You said it best, what I was wanting to reply on. Thank you!
Right on! This is their primary power for their road!
2 end cabs are still in use by V/Line at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne Victoria Australia to move passenger carriages in and out of the platforms, their days are numbers as most of the fleet is now DMU.
They are Y class and there used to be 75 of them in use across the system, there are a few in use by preservation groups.
The Indiana Harbor Belt still has several SW1500’s still in service.
Recently, a Boston and Maine butthead was saved from scrap in Pennsylvania
I do remember seeing such B&M "butthead" switcher serving the City of Keene, NH, until 1980. Commonly used was #1231.
It would come up from Brattleboro, VT, in the last days of rail service to Keene, traveling through the towns of Hinsdale, Winchester, West Swanzey, typically following the Ashuelot River.
Morristown & Erie in Morris County NJ still runs their SW1500 #20 for both excursion and revenue freight.
Here's another idea for a video (hopefully with working examples): show us the differences between yard slugs, road slugs, and cow/calf sets and why and where railroads would use each.
Indiana Harbor Belt fleet still consists primarily of SW 1500s
The LIRR and NY & Atlantic still use some MP15ACs. LIRR use to have MP15ACs to pull commuter trains from the 1980s until the 1990s.
They used to have a pair stationed at Harold Tower to act as rescue engines, at least during rush hour.
I don’t know what the current procedure is.
I moved out of New York 21 years ago.
@@yankinga those were EMD SW1001s at Harold.
@@jonathanng2390 you’re right. They even had them painted in the gray with orange ends livery. I guess they are razor blades or automobile fenders by now.
@@yankingaA few of the sw1001s are still floating around in service, some on NYAR and some on MOW servicss
Super. 💙 T.E.N. Edit: I still have five Athearn Bluebox SW-7 (SW-1500 on the box originally.) locomotives in operation after almost fifty years. I bought two cows and a calf brand new, and was impressed with how they ran, and was quite satisfied and happy with the purchase, as they all ran great. About six months later, there was a SW-7 cow and calf combo (Beavis & Butthead?🙂) in my paint scheme on consignment at the hobby shop. I was interested, but the dealer wanted $35.00 for the set, when the Athearn SW-7s were only $12.99 each, brand new, and he had my roadname in stock. I checked and these were modified with RADIAL X2-f couplers. At the time, I knew about a manufacturer that made radial X2-f couplers, but had only seen the Kadee radial knuckle coupler in use. Well, I bought those two right then and there, as my railroad was about 50/50 between hornhook and knuckle couplers back then. That much money would have almost paid for an Athearn F-7A Superpowered locomotive, matching F-7B dummy, and five matching Athearn streamlined passenger cars. Little did I know that those two locomotives would be the start of a trolley line with a paved right of way that is the railroads connection to a large sugar beet mill. The trolley line has 4 3/4 inch radius curves, and the two SW-7s will walk around those corners with 27 thirtyfour foot beet hopper cars in tow. Nowadays, the sugar beet mill has an 0-4-0 steam locomotive and a Plymouth MDT four wheel switcher, the trolley line has four trolley cars, one with radial Kadee knuckle couplers, two Plymouth CR-4 center cab switching locomotives, one Plymouth WDT six wheel switcher, two each box car, tank car, gondola, and one flatcar, one coach, one combine, and one observation passenger cars, and two cabooses, all equipped with radial couplers, not to mention the two SW-7s. Amazing what came from finding two modified locomotives on a dealers consignment shelf. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.
Now in the midst of the Great Texas plains, how long did that take you?
My railroad has been around since 1965, but in different locations. I still have and operate the original Lionel HO "Pacific" train set that my mom and dad gave me, and many of the items that I bought when I was young still operate on my layout. 💙 T.E.N.
@@tracynation2820 I said. HOW LONG DID TAKE YOU!? 😰
FIFTY FIVE YEARS. 💙 T.E.N.
@@tracynation2820 Wow, man lived an entire half century
I think Little Rock and Western still use a SW1500
My Uncle works for Norfolk Southern. He always told me these engines were called Butt Trains. 🤣
Another Great Video Man! These Videos Always help me understand the RR a lot more!👍
Thanks!
I never heard the term "butthead" to describe an end cab switcher before.
Might be a southern thing ....my dad's friend worked at RF&P, my uncle was at FEC....they called them buttheads....my dad was at BN out of Cicero, he called them buttheads but everyone thought he was nuts....
I’ve never heard switchers called this before today either, although I guess I can see how end-cab diesel switchers got this nickname.
I've heard railroaders even call them "Glass Ass"
V12 always got some sweet models in the background of his set, definitely should make a video featuring tour collection
Madison Railroad in Indiana owns 2 of the former NASA switchers.
I kinda think we need to see a resurgence of electric locomotives, or even hybrids, though i suppose that presents new safety and logostic problems. It just seems like having a catenary or third rail in yards for its switchers would be a good solution
And I have been wondering about that; conventional overhead and 3rd rail technologies are still practical and effective today. India is going to have electrified it's entire railway system; because they worked towards it early on. Yet many companies are spending millions to develop battery locomotives for mainline use. I guess they will do anything but install overhead lines.
As far as I know, the Union Pacific in Janesville, WI has two MP15s that are used in the yard.
Not sure what happened to the MP15ACs that the CMSTP&P used after they went defunct.
The long island railroad and the new york and atlantic, each use mp15 ac and lirr use sw 1001.
That 9624 B&O unit came past my grandparents home back in the 60’s on the way to Sparrows Point.
I have NEVER heard the term "Butt Head" for an end-cab switcher
And I hope I never hear it again
Excellent production. Looking forward to seeing the Sandersville footage
That type of locomotive was the very first experience I had, up close and personal, when my Dad was an Engineer. Many fond memories. There is one sitting in the local (3rd level) yard - but I haven't seen it in use over several years now. The local run is handled by a pair of GP35s(?). Thanks for the informative post.
Thanx for the great detail!
The East Tennessee Railway in Johnson City, TN still uses an SW7 painted in Southern livery
I've never once heard them called a butthead before. I wonder if that's some regional slang.
doubt it... bet it's a foamer term from someone that didn't know anything, I also would say it wasn't used at all before circa 2000+
I have been around trains since I was born . Always nice to see a new video !
A cement company near me still uses a ge center cab switcher,origins unknown but very cool piece of metal that still moves freight
I know that Metra had an SW1 working well into the 21st century, but I don't know if that locomotive is still in service. In any case, I happen to own an HO-scale SW1 model in PRR brunswick green.
Another interesting video. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for watching!
I used to see them all the time when I was a kid. KCS yard in Beaumont Texas.
The plant I work at we have an SW1500, SW900, 2 SW1200 and an NW2
Amtrak used to have a switcher in atlanta like these in mid 90s when they were hauling extra sleepers and mail on the crescent. They would use to cut cars out on 19 and make up additional consist on 20.
Heart of Dixie R.R. Museum in Calera AL still uses a SW7 switcher (I think) and can do cab rides in it. If memory serves me correctly it was a former US Army switcher
I see them ( MP15's and even a SW something ) frequently on the CSX main in Central New York being towed from Buffalo to Selkirk, sometimes even under power. Have a pile of pics and video of them this past year 2023 and early 2024. So I guess that means they have a place somewhere. Or maybe being prepped for sale? At the DeWitt yards, they have sd40-3's with remotes. My last video shows a typical use of them with a remote. Love this video BTW, really well done.
Delmarva Central runs MP15’s on certain road freights. I’ve seen them in Delmar and Salisbury Maryland.
I remember when switchers were common on the ACL Lineville sub. The pulled pulpwood cars to Manchester.
Good video, Charlie!
Your knowledge of history and the technical aspects of railroading is impressive. I always learn something!
All of the URR Trains in Pittsburgh as I remember them would always run butt foward gave them much better visibility running those fast hot metal trains. Was always fun as a kid because the crew would almost always be able to see you wave
Pittsburgh local checking in, URR still runs 4 packs of them to move freight like ore pellets etc around the system to this day
There's quite a few industries out here in the El Paso, TX area that still use end-cab switchers and trackmobiles: Vinton Steel in Vinton, TX, the Freeport Mcmoran plant in El Paso, and Jobe cement off Paisano Dr. still has an old GE 44-Tonner tucked away, but most likely got replaced judging by the presence of the trackmobile.
The South Carolina Railroad Museum runs their museum excursion trains with several former military switchers. You can occasionally get a ticket to ride in the cab too! Great video, learned a lot and enjoyed it.
That loco you thought to be of French origin also looks like one they use in Germany which is much more modern looking. The unobstructed sight lines from a center mounted cab give the operator lots of help when in operation. It looks like a typical yard switcher though this one has that German industrial look though it's an attractive looking locomotive nonetheless. Do a search for "German Diesel Locomotive DB Class 294 834-7" or check out a DB Class 212 for another example of one...
latex in lordastown and McDonald Ohio have tons of them, love them
There are some end cabs on the Black river and western RR part of the Chesapeake and Delaware rr llc Morris and Erie and Raritan central in NJ
The redi center was the last place I ever saw one on csx. GP40s are now the go to power for yard work in my area.
I learned how to run an ex BN NW2. Awesome visibility.
The SW's an all time favorite on my neck of the woods ,, CNR , CPR ,, will certainly be missed
Theres a couple of SW1200s around my neck of the woods in Charleston County, Palmetto Railways operates a good number of them which have roots to South Carolina Public Railways, these days they wear a brilliant blue in immaculate condition. PR cares a lot about the condition of their fleet, its hard to see rust or weathering.
I love my swithcers and slug units
By the time I had retired from the steel mill where I worked, I had run switchers for almost 20 years. We ran only EMD SW1200's, and we all loved them and worked them hard. I left in 2009, but the mills still run these engines. The one I generally ran was a 1957 model, an ex BN engine, numbered 170. I have many pictures and many fond memories of running on the railroad with these old locomotives.
Check with Tacoma Rail in Tacoma Washington. They have bright red and white liverys. I know as I was a crew hauler for the BNSF and UP that delivered and pulled consists from the Port of Tacoma.
my childhood tourist railroad ''The Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad'' had a EX CNW SW1200 #1219 that eventually was the primary locomotive for the dinner and tourist trains after the railroad sold their EX US-Army 2-8-0 #1702. Unfortunately, the railroad was abandoned in 2011 and the rail equipment was sold except 1219 which was left on some of the right of way until being sold to a scrapper that scrapped it in late 2023. Very Sad
I prefered the Yard Engine (End Cab Switcher) to a GP7 or 9, or even the GP38s for yard work. That's what they were built for. Great visibility, and would pull just about anything you could couple it to. I miss these old workhorses!!!! Nice video!!!!
The Long Island Rail Road operates the EMD SW1001 and EMD MP15AC. The New York & Atlantic Railway, which is a shortline serving Queens, Brooklyn also operates the EMD SW1001 and EMD MP15AC.
GP15D/GP20D which were built until 2004 would really be the last end cab switchers we see being built new but companies like Knoxville locomotive works will take an old frame and build a new end cab unit which looks a lot like a SW/MP unit but with a QST-30
The MDW in International Falls Minnesota still operate ALCO and EMD switchers.
Here in Philadelphia we here at Septa use them on our regional rail lines but for work train service
Gold Coast RR Museum actually has two former NASA locos. ALCo S-2 #1 and NASA's later SW1500 #2. A preserved USAF SW8M is also on display at the Air Force side of Canaveral Air Force Station. Of the three, I have ridden in all of them, but prefer the controls of the ALCo. Why? Because it is strictly mechanical from the control stand to the engine. You can move the throttle just a hair if you need just a few more HP. The other two are set at what the electricals space the engine speed at.
There's a yard in duryea pa that still uses these but there's like a couple there and there's also a gp30 there as well I even saw a rj corman one somewhere further around there
Great informational video. A&NR in Luflkin, TX. still run two "Buttheads" a SW1500 and a S4!
There is a refinery in Northeast Philadelphia, PA that has 2 end cab switchers. You can see them from I 95 North just past the spot where the on ramp from the westbound side of the Betsy Ross Bridge is
TZPR in the Peoria Illinois area has three, 1521, 1351, 1352
I clicked on the title thinking it's about your President 🙄🤣
csx still uses a lot off sd40s on there mainline trains
The Union Railroad that you touched on here in Pittsburgh runs them in 4 unit formations, and because of logistics of the yard setups.... still uses cabooses on some trains!
OMLX 2008 is an SW9 on the Fulton County RR. Powered by an 8-cylinder 567-C engine and has to be blown out each time before starting! But there's something terribly wrong with the engine as it overloads and shuts down if MU'd. So they were storing it at the end of the Intonu Lead. 33.74963402830621, -84.55290669482991 when there's no room in the Yard near Cascade Rd on Wilson Mill. But its been years since I laid eyes on it and that was also when I ran it. I could switch the yard with it just fine. It would pull 40-50 cars out of the yard and up the hill towards the crossing. But it would not handle a run to the south end by itself and you couldn't MU another engine to it. Poor little switcher! No near as fun as running an ALCO S1 but it got the job done, sometimes.
Never heard them called that,nice video, R.I.P Shoestring,like the vintage footage of steam and molten ladles!🛤🚂
CSX still uses them in niagra falls area! Normally transferred to selkirk yard to get repairs
There are few different shunter types in Europe:
Center cab - the most common type, with cab in between hoods. Example: Br363 from DB, locomotive type 736 of ZSSK.
End cab/“Butt head” - uncommon, I only know 1 type: type 721 from ZSSK or ZSSK Cargo
Center cab w. high hoods - relatively uncommon, they have relatively poor visibility. Example: locomotive type 742 of ČD Cargo,…; or type 770 from ZSSK Cargo,…
We have two in service at TVRM. One is ex. Milwaukee Road SW1200 No. 606. It lives at the museum and can be seen fairly frequently pulling passenger trains or freight.
The other one we have that runs is ex. US Army SW8 No. 2000, though it is currently numbered as TVRM 1898. It lives at the Nokian Tire Plant in Dayton, Tennessee as their in plant switcher. TVRM supplies the staff to operate it whenever they need a move, usually about once or twice a week.
North shore railroad in Pennsylvania runs a few of them.
The United States Army added a sw8 to their roster, it was originally built for B&O but it now serves its part for switching duties in the Fort eustis army base.
Kutztown, Pa. Allentown and Auburn Railroad. They use an sw built by EMC in 1937. They also have an rs3 or an rs1, I don't remember.
4:10 The Whitcomb was actually used internationally, some operated for quite a long time in the Netherlands and Italy.
Nederlandse Spoorwegen acquired units No. 601 to 619 in 1946, using them until 1960.
Ferrovie dello Stato took over 49 units type Ne 120 built 1941 to 1944 and rebuilt them to D 143 in the years 1966 to 1974, the last operated until 2014!
From 1952 to 2055 SGP built 20 units class 2045 for ÖBB (Austria) that had some similarities in the general layout with the Whitcomb. Due to limited visibility that remained the only center cab locomotive with high hoods, later shunters were built with low hoods and raised cabs.
On a recent trip to Chicago via Amtrak I saw an antique SW1 still toiling along at an industrial site down here in Texas.
The big south fork scenic railroad in sterns Kentucky has one also the Knoxville and holston river railroad in Knoxville Tennessee has a bunch to
Great vid.....and history narration...
Thanks!
While stationed at George AFB in Victorville, CA in 1973, I remember we had a GE, either 40 or 50 something tonner that would periodically bring box and tanker (jet fuel) cars from the UP lines at Victorville out to the base. I'm sure that was gone a couple of years later as most USAF base locomotives (and rail supply) was quickly deactivated in lieu of 'more efficient' truck transport. And then the Gulf oil 'crisis' hit...
in BNSF's Northtown Yard they have 2 switchers, one is even still in BN paint, while they don't switch the yard they have been assigned as shop switchers
The Long Island Railroad and New York and Atlantic Railway still have a handful of MP15ACs and SW1001s.
LIRR's fleet of them are primarily used for work trains, rescue moves, and other jobs, although some MP15s were used for passenger service from being built until 1999.
NY&AR's fleet of them are primarily used for switching and freight service on Long Island.
ButtHeads? Always heard them called Switchers back in the 1950's and 60's. So how did that name come about?
I have several switchers on my HO model railroad. Since I used to live in Jonesboro, GA, I model the Central of Georgia. Cheers from eastern TN
There's a small industrial railroad here in valleypark Missouri called the Burlington Junction railway and they use end cab switchers but idk how many locomotives they have
They were also notable for having some of the last operating Alco C415's in the country.
A cool variant of the EMD SW1200, the GMD SW1200MG is in use by the Iron Ore Company of Canada. It's electric and fully automatic.
There's a former Lehigh valley/ Conrail SW8m working at the Maryland pig iron company in Chicago
The railroad I work at ;Walkersville Southern Railroad and Museum we have a huge fleet of center and end cab locomotives
There is a small rail line in north Canaan, CT that uses one or two to pick up freight around town. I have even seen it lashed up to a gp38-2 once they get enough train put together. I believe it is a CITX leased unit it was very new looking. Anyway if you are serious and want to locate said railroad go to google earth or whatever and look up the north Canaan golf course and you will see the small Matinence yard where they keep the switchers it’s at the entrance to the golf course. 👍
The Union railroad out of Pittsburgh Pa still uses the buttheads, they always had them mainly for switching for US steel, LTV formerly J&L steel used them in the coke ovens along side the P&LE railroad now CSX
I'd definitely like to see those!
@@v12productionsthere's a ton of videos online. But you should try to come to Pittsburgh to see them in action!
I know that the reading and northern runs some end cab
The Madison Railroad in Indiana has a couple buttheads in great shape still on duty, including one that was NASA unit.
Caltrain in San Jose, CA has two switchers. JPBX 504 and 503. One of them is being rebuilt. Caltrain mainly uses them to cut cars off of passenger trains and to make new consists. They sometimes go out on the mainline to rescue trains or to help with something in San Francisco. Also great video💪
Two EMD Joule locomotives built in Brazil are big six-axle units with an end-cab design! It was rather surprising to see that.